Steam or vapor heating system



W. S. HAVEN.

STEAM OR VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. I916- RENEWED AUG. 16.1921.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

m 1 F w awucmlio'a MMAWW W. S. HAVEN. STEAM OR VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED mm, 1916. RENEWED AUG. 15. 1921.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

awe-(Mag UNHTED WALTER S. HAVEN, OF RACINE, WISCONSINL STEAM OR- VAIORHEATING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1 .1, 1922.

Application filed February 2, 1316, Serial No. 75,791. Renewed August16, Serial No. 492,873.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WALTER S. HAVEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at li acine,in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating toSteam or Vapor Heating Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in steam or vapor heatingapparatus; and the objects and nature of the invention will. be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art in the light of the followingexplanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believeto be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression of my inventionfrom among other forms, constructions, arrangements, and combinationswithin the spirit and scope thereof.

An object of the invention is to'provide improved means in (so-called)vacuum steam heating systems for maintaining a negative pressure pull oran air exhausting action on the radiator system to compensate for airleakage by utilizing the pressure reducing action of a columnot liquiddescending ina closed passage system and by repeatedly using the samebody of liquid to reduce waste of liquid to the minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam or vapor heatingsystem with means for maintaining a minus pressure pull on the radiatorsby utilizing the pressure reducing and air expelling action of adescending column of liquid passing successively from chamber to chamberoi a series of closed chambers at diiierent elevations. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam or vacuumheating system wherein the liquid employed to secure negative pressurecan be utilized over and over again in maintaining the desired airexhausting action or negative pressure pull onthe radiators or radiatorsystem. further object of the invention is to provide a steam or vaporheating plant with improved means for automatically and periodicallydraining a closed chamber in air exhausting communication with aradiator system to exert negative pressure pull on said radiator system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid draining systemfor maintaining negative pressure pull or air exhausting action on theradiator system of valve mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to a steam or vapor heating'plantby causing the draining means to operate periodically through theprovision of an automatic valve mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a draining" systemwherein liquid is successively drained from one closed chamber toanother of a series of such chambers to successively fill saidchambersto expel air therefrom and 'to empty said chambers to produce, airexhausting action on the radiators of a steam or vapor heating plant.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved tanker chamberdrains.

ing means involving an automatic valve device and a siphon. a

A further object of the invention is to provide means for 'filling andemptying tanks or chambers involving an improved provide certainimprovements in combinations of parts. and features and in constructionsand arrangements with the end in view of producing a highlyetticient andadvantageous steam or vapor heating plant.

A further object of the invention 'isto provide a steam or vapor heatingplant with liquid operated means for maintaining negatwo pressure pullon the radiator system embodying devices for" automatically cutting offthe liquid supply flow when the pressure in the radiator system is plusand for automatically establishing or starting the liquid supply flowwhen the steam pressure in the radiator system falls to approximatelyminus pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam condenser in theair pipe line between the radiator system of a steam or vapor heatingplant, and the liquid operated means for maintaining negative pressurepull on the radiator system, to prevent passage of steam through thepipe line into said means, should steam pressure for any reason be longcontinued.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and incombinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forthhereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs:- A

Fig. l, diagrammatically illustrates a portion of a steam or vaporheating system including my present improvements.

Fig. 2, is a detail view of valve and siphon draining meansthat canbeemployed therein.

Fig. 3, diagrammatically illustrates a modification of the liquid tankand drainage means forestablishi'ng minus pressure pull on. the radiatorsystem.

Fig. 4, is a detail View somewhat diagrammatically illustrating meansthat might be employed to start and stop the liquid supply flow to thetop tank of the vertical series of small tanks. V

Fig. 5, is a detail view of a modification.

Fig. 6, is also a detail view of another modification.

In the drawings, portions of the radiators l, of the radiator system e1.a steam or vapor heating system, are shown. 7

It Wlll be understood of course, that these radiators are merelydiagrammatically illustrated to indicate any suitable heat radiatingelements or units that are connected in any suitable manner with a steamor vapor generator to receive steam or vapor therefrom, preferably sothat negative or minus pressure existing in said radiators will becommunicated through a closed steam or vapor supply pipe system of saidgenerator. to draw vapor therefrom into the radiators.

Any suitable pipe line or air line 2, is provided to receive the airfrom the radiators and through which negative or'minus pressure. can bemaintained in the radiators. This air or exhausting pipe line-isdiagrammatically illustrated and can be provided with any desirablecontrolling valves, cut offs, or, the like, such for instance. as arecommonly employed in so called vacuum or vapor heating systems. This airline usually consists of a closed pipe linecoupled into the outlet ordischarge ends of all the radiators to receive-the air, therefrom and isprovided with any suitable arrangement of check valves 'to prevent backflow of pressure or air into the radiators yet to permit -tree out-flowof air therefrom, and with thermostatic valves 1, to prevent outflow ofsteam from the radiators, and with a final air discharge to atmospherewhich final discharge is equipped with means to prevent hack flow ofair.

Between the radiators and said final dis charge to atmosphere, said airline is provided with means for producing negative or minus pressure insaid line and the radiators, comprising a series of tanks, compartmentsor other chambers to be successively filled with liquid to force, airfrom such chambers and to be successively drained from one to the otherunder such conditions as to create negative pressure therein and therebyexert air exhausting pull on the radiators through said air line.

In the particular example illustrated, I show a vertical series composedof any suitable number of elevated closed tanks, chambers orcompartments, 3, 3, 3*, 3, arranged tank willbe approximately filled andthen emptied.

The standpipe 2 of the air line extends up beside this series of tanksand is separately connected with the tanks through the medium of branchpipes 2 one foreach tank. The standpipe is in open communication withthe top of the interior of each tank through a branch 2', for free flowof air from the air line intothe tanks, but is closed a .ainst back flowfrom tank to air line by c eck valves 2, in said branches 2".

The air discharge from these tanks can be taken care of in whole orinpart by an offtake standpipe 4, separately connected with thetanksthrough the medium of branch pipes 4 one for each tank, openin into thetop of the interiors thereof an each equipped with a check valve 4",topermit free flow of air from the tanks into the standpipe 4, but toprevent 'back flow from the sta-ndpipe to the tanks.

At its lower end, this'standpipe 4, has a discharge 4, to atmosphere,which preferably constitutes the final air discharge or outlet toatmosphere for the entire air line from the radiators. This outlet toatmosphere is providedwith any suitable means to prevent inlet of air tothe standpipe 4, although in the example illustrated, I show liquid seal4, for this purpose, with the outlet end of standpipe 4, alsopreferablyequipped with freely downwardly opening check valve 4 to prevent upflowof water from the water seal under conditions that mi ht possibly arise.

' fn the example illustratechand so far described. the air line inreality includes the standpipes 2 and 4,. and their branchpipes as wellas the series of tanks, as the air flows therethrough on its way fromthe radiators to the final discharge to atmosphere atv liquid seals 4,and 6 j Any suitable means can be provided for supplying the water orother liquid for I frequently prefer to connect the pipe 5, so as todischarge into the lower part of the interior of a relatively largeclosed tank or chamber 3, "elevated above the series of tanks mentioned,and to discharge the liquid from this large tank through the series oftanks. Where this large tank is employed, the standpipe 2, opens intothe upper part of the interior of said tank and is equipped with. acheck valve 2 arranged to freely open toward said tank but to preventback flow of air from said tank. The standpipe l, also opens into thetop of the interior of said large tank to carry off airtherefrom and isequipped with check valve 4L, arranged to freely open for passage of airfrom the tank but to prevent back flow from said standpipe to the tank.'

This large tankis providedwith a depen ing drainage pipe 3", from thelower part of its interior to the relatively small tank 8. This drainagepipe 3, discharges into the lower part of the interior of tank 3, andits outlet in said tank is closed against back flow of air by a. waterseal S The pipe 3", is of small capacity so that the flow of liquid.from large tank 3, will be very slow, and this pipe is provided with cutoff valve 3 for completely closing said pipe as when the large tank iscut out of the air line, or for regulating the flow of watertherethrough whenthe tank 3 is in use.

The standpipes 2, and l, can also be provided with cut off valves 2 and4k, and the pipe 5, with, cut off valve 5", whereby the large tank canbe cut out oftheair line ifso desired. In that event, the branch pipe 5,from the water supply pipe 5, can be utilized for filling the tank 3.This branch 5, is of relatively small capacity to providela very slowpassage of water into tank 3, and is provided with cut off valve 5, forregulating the flow of waterto said tank, and for entirely cutting offsaid branch as when the large tank is included in the system, and thetank 3, is supplied with water therefrom.

In Fig. 3, I show an airexhausting system comprising the series of tanks3, 3, 3", 3 with the water supply pipe'ii, 5, discharging into the tank3, and omitting entirely the large upper tank 3, and itsconnections, thesystems of Figs. 1 and 3, being otherwise the same. i

A pipe 6, is provided for draining the uppermost tank 3, into the nexttank 3, below, for filling said last mentioned tank andexpelling the airtherefrom, and another pipe 6, isprovided for drainingthe water from.tank 3", into the next tank 3 and another pipe 6*, is provided fordraining the water from tank 3 into tank 3, while a fourth pipe 6, isprovided for draining the last tank in the series. charges the water toatmosphere through the medium of a'water seal 6 from which This pipe 6,preferably disthe overflow can pass any suitable drain or oiftake. Thewater seal 6, is provided to prevent any possibility of back flowthrough pipe 6, and said pipe is also preferably equipped withdownwardly opening check valve 6, to prevent upfiow of the liquid fromthe seal.

The discharge ends of the drain pipes 6, 6, 6 in the tanks 3", 3 and 3,are preferably closed against up flow of fluid therein and forthispurpose, I show water seals 6 arranged on the floors of said tanks.

Each small tank of the series is provided with suitable means to preventdrainage of liquid from the tank while the tank is being filled and theair is being expelled therefrom, and to start the operation of drainingthe liquid from the tank into the next tank below or into the'water seal6, when the tank has been filled with liquid, and by this drainingoremptying process to create minus or negative pressure in the standpipe2 T is means I prefer to employ are automatic in action to automaticallyclose the drainage outlet from each tank when theliquid has been drawtherefrom, and to automatically open the drainage outlet and start thedown flow of liquid from the tank when the tank has beenlilled withliquid. Each tank will thus be periodically automatically filled withliquid and then emptied, the liquid passing down successively from tankto tank, and

each tank as it is filled discharges air and each tank as it is emptieddraws air from the radiators through standpipe 2, or from the tankabove, or from-both sources.

In the particular example illustrated, I provide each tank 3, 3, etc,with'a depending or bottom well 8, into which the liquid in the tank isadapted to drain, and the offtake or drain pipe 6', 6, or 6", of thetank has its inlet end arranged in the bottom portion ofthis well tocarry off the liquid therefrom. Theupper end of each said drain pipe isprcferably'formed with a goose neck 6 so arranged that each drain pipeconstitutes a siphon with its long leg depending to" and discharginginto the next tank below and with itsshort leg at the upper end of thepipe and having its inlet end near the bottom of the interior of thewell 8;

This well may be of any desired shape and capacity with respect to thechamber or tank that drains into the well. The upper chamber or tank inthis connection supplies the necessary volume of water to prime thesiphon.

The floor or bottom of each tank is formed with a vertical port orpassage for the flow of liquidrfrom the body of the tank into theadapted to close down on the seat to stop the flow when the tank isfilling and adapted to rise from. the seat and permit the flow after thetank has been filled. This ball valve, if so desired, can be providedwith an upwardly extending stem or valve rod 11, to the upper end ofwhich is fixed a float 1:2, and if so desired, guides 13, carried bysuitable uprights can be provided, through which said stem isi'reelyslidable vertically and by which it is maintained position. i

The float 12, is of such size or lifting power that it will lift andunseat the valve 10. when the liquid fills the tank and acts on saidfloat. Said valve is preferably composed of a hollow ball ofcomparatively light weight of less specific gravity than water so thatthe valve will rise from its seat when subjected to the lifting actionof a body of water filling the well. The valve,

on theother hand, is of such weight and formation as to seat and, closetheoutlet or port in the bottom of the tank when the well is free ofwater, or when the water level therein is below the valve, and so as tobe maintained on itsseat in port closing position by the static pressureof the water in the tank. The buoyant quality of the float prevents thevalve 10, from prematurely reseating under the suction or drawing actionof the body of water fiowingthrough the port from the tank.

An air escape and drain pipe 6", is pro vided for each well 8, with itsopen upper inlet end in the upper part ofthe well in a horizontal planeabove the horizontal plane of thevalve seat 9, and with its lower endopening into the long leg 01" the siphon (into pipe 6, 6, 6 or 6) adistance below the horizontal plane of the inlet end of the siphon so asnot to interfere with the proper operation of the siphon. The combinedcapacities of pipe 6", and' the siphon is less than the capacity of theport 9, and the horizontal plane of the valve seat is below thehorizontal plane of the lowest portion of the curve of the goose-neck.When the valve 10, iselevated by its float, the well is rapidly filledand the air is driven therefrom through pipe 6", and into pipe 6, 6?,etc., into the tank below or through pipe 6, to atmosphere. When thewell is filled the water drains therefrom by gravity through the drainpipe 6", and through the siphon, until the water level falls to a pointwhere the siphonic action must be depended on to drain the well ashereinafter explained.

When the tank is approximately filled, the valve 10, is automaticallyunseated'andwater rushes from the tank into the well in greater volumethan can be carried off by the drain pipes 6, 6, and hence the wellbecomes completely filled although water is draining off through saidpipes 6, 6". The siphon is p in vertical primed by this complete fillingof the well as the water level is then above' the highest part of thesiphon and the siphon is completely filled and hence begins its siphonicaction in draining water from the well.

VVhen the body of the tank is emptied, the

.valve settleswith thefalling water onto its seat and closes the outletport, and the water then partially filling the; well is drawn or drainedtherefrom by the gooseneck-drain pipe which then begins to perform thefunctions of a. siphon to lift the remaining water from the well whichif allowed to remain in and filling the well up to the valve seat, wouldprevent the valve from entering and maintaining its seat when the waterbegins to againfill up the tank. The siphon is primed by the waterfilling the well and completely filling the short leg and goose neck ofthe siphon, from the chamber or tank above, the water being thus forcedfrom a higher level through the goose neck of the drain pipe to thetanks below. After the tank has become empty, the siphon action of thedrainpipe continues until the well is drained. Meanwhile, the valve 10,has become seated both by gravity and the suction action of the waterdraining from the well.

If so desired, an air escape and overflow pipe 14;, as shown by Figs. 5and 6, can be provided for each of the series of tanks 3, 3 etc, havingits open upper end arranged in the upper part of the interior of thetank and its lower discharge end arranged at the bottom of the interiorof the well of such tank and provided with a liquid seal 14 to preventupflow of air through the pipe.

lVhen these pipes 14:, are employed, water can drain therethrough byover-flow into the wells when the tanks are filled in the event that thefloats12 of Fig. 5, fail to elevate the valves 10, or if the float isnot employed, or in the arrangement disclosed by Fig. 6, the wateroverflows through these pipes 14: to operate the floats and unseat thevalves 10. Also, as the tanks fill, aircan pass therefrom through pipes14, into the wells, from which it flows through pipes 6" and 6, 6, etc.,to the tank below or through pipe 6, to atmosphere. The air expelledfrom the tanks as they are filled, will follow the path of leastresistance, either through pipes 1, and 4, to atmosphere, or the insidecourse through pipes 14, 6, 6 or 6 etc., from tank to tank and finallyfrom the system through pipe 6. In fact, where the pipes 14, and 6", ortheir equivalents are employed to provide an inside course for the airthrough the tank system, I can dispense with the air outlet pipes 4, and4, and pipe 6 can form the final air discharge as well as the finalwater discharge from the air exhausing system.

Also, should the lower tanks of the series when being emptied, suck ordraw air from the upper tank or tanks rather than through their suctioninlet pipes 2*, the air exhausting action on the radiator system will bethe same as though each tank exerted its pull through its branch pipe 2,as contemplated. This might occur in case of the employment of overflowpipe 14.

In the drainage valve arrangement of Fig. 6, the valve 10, is providedwith a lift float 12, arranged in the well and the well. is filled tolift the float and consequently the valve from its seat through the pipe14.

To prevent the flow of water through the outlet port from the tank, whenthe valve is elevated from its seat, from forcing down the float andseating the valve, I provide a shield or horizontal portion 12, betweenthe outlet port fromthe tank and the float to receive the impact of thefalling water. This shield provides vertical water passages or holes12*, at its edge portion remote from the float, to permit passage ofwater to'the portion of the well containing the float and to permit thewater to fill the well as hereinbefore described. tions of the valve andfloat and of the siphon and drainage pipe 6", are as hereinbeforedescribed. I

The drain pipe 14:, or the float controlled valve, provide for thepreliminary filling of the well to prime the siphon, and to release thevalve while the siphon serves to finally drain the well to permit properseating of the valve, although I do not wish to limit all features of myinvention to the particular draining means involving a valve and siphon.

It is desirable to prevent the passage of steam from the radiator systeminto the standpipe 2 and the liquid tanks, and hence I canemploy anysuitable construction'or arrangement of steam condenser in the air pipeline from the radiator system. For instance, I more or lessdiagrammatically show a steam condensing coil or other radiator 0,located between the radiator system and the standpipe 2*, to assure thecondensation of all steam that might leak from the radiator system intothe air pipe line.

I While the steam or radiator system is under plus pressure i. e. whenthe steam pressure is above that of theatmosphere, there is no necessityof filling and draining the tanks to expel and draw in air for then airleakage into the radiator system does not occur. Hence, I preferablyprovide means to cut on the flow of water into the tank- 3, when pluspressure exists in the radiator system, or in the air pipe linestandpipe 2*, and thereby avoid waste of water. In the particularexample illustrated, I provide a sliding or reciprocatory cut off valve16, in the water supply pipe 3", (Fig. 1) er gto t 3, Op ra y aOtherwise the opera-' lever 17, to open and close said pipe. This leveris operated or actuated, to stop or start the flow of Water, by anysuitable pressure operated means connected with the radiator system. For instance, I show flexible diaphragm 18, having a rod 19, fixedthereto and pivotally joined to lever 17. The diaphragm forms theflexible wall of a pressure chamber 21 connected by air pipe 20, to theradiator system, through standpipe 2 and the air line 2. Plus pressurein the radiator system will elevate the diaphragm and close the valve16, and stop the flow of water to tank 3. The instant the pressure fallsin the radiator system, to a predetermined point at which the pressuredevice is set or adjusted to open valve 16, the flexible diaphragm dropsor moves inwardly and starts the flow of water to set up the minuspressure producing action of the 85 liquid in the tanks.

However, I do not wish to limit all features of my invention to thismeans for automatically starting and stopping the flow of the supplyliquid.

In considering the operation of the system described, we will start withthe radiators cold and containing air at atmospheric pressure, and thelarge and small tanks empty and in open communication with theradiators, and with the cut-off valves 5, 5", and 3 closed and thecut-off valves 2 4 open. The furnace is then started to generate steamor vapor in the boiler which as the pressure rises will enter theradiators and drive, the air therefrom into the air line. When thepressure has reached the desired point in the radiators (thermostaticvalves 1 and condenser c, preventing flow of steam from the radiatorsinto the air line) the air has been driven therefrom into the varioustanks and when the pressure in said tanks exceeds atmospheric pressurethe dead air will escape through the water seal 4:, to atmosphere at thedischarge end of standpipe 4-. When 110 the dead air has thus beendriven from the radiators, or at any other convenient time, valve 5 inthe water supply pipe is opened and water under pressure is admitted tothe large tank 3 toexpell the air therefrom 115 through standpipe 4:-When said tank is full, the valve 5", is closed, and a comparativelylarge supply of water is thus provided. in the tank 3', to operate theair exhausting system for a considerable length of time, say 120 fortwenty four hours, although this depends on the adjustment of the meanscon trolling the rate of flow or drainage from the tank, and on thecapacity of the tank, all of which can be arranged and varied to suit125 conditions or the requirements in eachp'articular instance.

When the large tank is thus provided with the desired sup-ply of water,the valve 8 is opened to permit a slow leakage of water 130 through pipe8", and into the small tank 3. The withdrawal of water from the closedtank 3, causes decrease in pressure therein and a consequent airexhausting pull on the radiators through the medium of standpipe 2, andpipe line 2.

The small tank 3, is gradually filled by said slow flow of water throughpipe 3", and air is thereby driven therefrom through branch 4:, and thestandpipe a, except as modified by the employment of overflow pipe 14:.Vv he'n the tank 3, is filled, the water is automatically emptiedtherefrom to exert air exhausting pull through branch 2, and pipes 2 2,on the radiators, and to fill tank 3 and drive the air therefrom, and soon down through the series of small tanks as hereinbefore described. Thesmall flow of water through the drain pipe 3", is constant andcontinuous during the operation of the air exhausting system, tocompensate for air leakage into the radiators and pipe line. \Vheneverthe supply of water in the large tank is exhausted, the valve 5, in thewater supply pipe is opened to again fill said tank.

The small tanks of the series are usually of approximately the samecapacity so that the same body o-fwater will pass from tank to tankexpelling the air from each tankin succession and then creating minuspressure in each tank in succession so that thesaine body of water isused over and over again to expel air from the air line and to draw airfrom the radiator system into the air line and this operation isperiodically and automatically repeated in each tank so long as the slowflow of water through pipe 8, continues.

By thus using the same body of water over and over again to successivelyproduce air exhausting operations,economy is effected in the use orwaste of municipal water, and furthermore an exceedingly e'flicient airexhausting system for heating plants is produced possessing all of theadvantages of the system of my pending patent application filed March 9,1915, Serial Number 13291 with additional features of advantage andutility.

In the construction illustrated by'Fig. the tank 3, and the drainagepipe 3, are

omitted together with the extensions of pipe 5 and standpipes 2, andalto said tank, and the supply of water is delivered direct by pipe 5,5', into the small tank 3, so that the operation of the system is thesame as that hereinbefore described except with respect to the largetank'3. The pipe 5' and the cut ofi valve 5, control the constant flowof water into the tank 3, so that this tank is very slowly filled, theconstant flow of water being very small.

It is evident that various changes. modifications and variations mightbe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scopeot myinvention and hence I'do not wish to limit myself to the exactdisclosure hereof, but consider myself entitled to all 7 such variationsand departures as involve the definitions of the following claims.

hat I claim is: 1. Apparatus for maintaining negative )ressure inadvance of the heatin fluid in p therein, comprising a vertical seriesof successive closed liquid chambers, means whereby air-exhaustingcolumns of liquid are caused to successively descend from chamber-tochamber, and means for supplyingliquid to the top chamber of the series.

' 3. Apparatus .for exhausting dead air from. fluid house heatingsystems, comprising a series of drain pipes, and means for forming thesame body of liquid into columns of liquid to successively descendthrough said pipes, substantially as described.

Apparatus for maintaining negative pressure pull on the heating fluid influid heating systems, comprising a series of tanksarranged atdiii'erent elevations, connections for draining the liquid fromeach tankto the next tank below to thereby eX- ert successive air exhaustingactions, and

a source of liquid supply, substantially as described. 7

5. Apparatus for maintaining minus pressure pull on the radiator systemsof fluid heating plants, characterized by a series of chambers havingair exhausting connections with the radiating systems, a source ofliquid supply, and a series of devices constructed and arranged forsuccessively and automatically filling and draining-liquid from saidchambers ,for successively forcing air from and drawing air into saidchambers, substantially as described.

6. In a fluid house heating system, in

combination, radiators, and means for maintaining minus pressure pull onthe radiators of the system, said means comprising a vertical series ofclosed chambers each having an air ofl'take-passageandeach having an airinlet passage connected with said radiators to exert minus pressurepullon the interiors thereof, and connections for supplying water into theuppermost cham her and for successively filling and emptying saidchambers, substantially as described.

7. Apparatus for maintaining minus pres-.

sure fuli in a fluid heating system, comprismg an air line having an airdischarge to atmosphere, said air line including a vertical series ofclosed chambers each having.

a valvedair inlet and a valved air outlet, means for supplying liquidfor filling the uppermost chamber or" said series, and drain pipesconnecting said chambers for successively draining the liquid from saiduppermost chamber and filling and emptying the chambers below andfinally discharging the water from the lowermost chamber.

.8. A steam or vapor heating system comprising radiators, a closed airpipe line from the discharge ends of the radiators leading to, andprovided with, an air discharge for the free discharge of air from saidline but closed against back flow of fluid to the line, and meanscomprising a series of connected closed liquid chambers included in'said line for successively acting to produce minus pressure therein bythe passage of liquid from chamber-to chamber.

9. In a steam or vapor'heating system, a radiator, an elongated ventpipe, in open communication with said radiator, a fluid seal to preventback flow of outside air through sa d pipe, and means 1n closedcommunication with both the radiator and pipe and involving liquidchambers and devices controlling the discharge of liquid thereflOIIl.

l0. Avapor or steam heating system comprising a radiator, and elongatedvent pipe, a fluid'seal to prevent back flow of air in said pipe, acheck valve .to prevent fluid from said seal rising in said pipe, andconpipe embodying devices for successively 'dralning a body of liquidfrom one closed chamber to another.

12. steam or vapor heating system comprising radiators, a pipe line fordrawing air from the radiators, said pipe line having a'dis charge forthe free discharge therefrom of the air drawn from the radiators, and

means forproducing and maintaining minus pressure n said plpe line bythe drainage of stored water from one closed chamber to prising aradiator having an air discharge" pipe with a vertical portionterminating at its lower end in an air discharge provided witha liquidseal, and means for drawing air from said radiator and expelling thesame into said discharge pipe embodying several liquid chambers andconnecting drainage devices. I

14:. A steam or vapor heating system com prising radiators, a pipe lineconnected with the radiators to receive the dead air therefrom andhaving an air discharg'e'to the atmosphere and embodying a water and airstorage chamber provided with means for draining the water therefrom forthe purpose of exhaustingair from the radiators,

and a series of tanks receiving the water from said chamber andsuccessively filled and emptied thereby.

' 15. Apparatus for removing air in front of the heating fluid insteam,.vapor and other fluid heating systems, comprising a storageliquidtanlr to receive air from the system, means for supplying liquidto said tank, a series of closed liquid chambers connected to receiveairfrom the system and to discharge air therefrom, and drainage devicesfor periodically and successively filling and emptying said chambers andfor pcriodically discharging liquid from said tank to supply saidchambers. V

' 16} In a fluid heating plant radiator system,'in combination, astorage tank communicating with the radiators to receive the dead airtherefrom' provided with an air vent sealed" against inlet of air, meansfor filling the tank with water to discharge the stored air therefromthrough said vent,"and a series ofclosed chamb'ers'connected to re-.ceive the drainage from said tank and connectedtogether to drain fromone to the other and having air outlets and connected with the radiatorsto draw air therefrom.

17 Apparatus for maintaining an air exhausting action on the radiatorsystems of fluid heating plants, comprising a verticallyid sposedclosedliquidpassage embodying a series of chambersandjmeans for causlnga column of liquid todescend through said passage fromchamber tochamber.

18. Apparatus'for withdrawing air from the radiator systems of fluidheating plants to compensate for airleakage, comprising an uprightliquid passage embodying a succession of air exhausting anddischargingstages, and means for causing an air exhausting-and discharging body ofliquid to descend through said passage from stage to stage.

19. Apparatus for withdrawing air from fluid heating plant radiators,comprising several closed chambers at different elevations, and meansfor causing .a' column "of liquid to pass down through said chamberssuccessively, substantially as described.

' 20. Apparatu'sfo'r withdrawingair from fluid heating plant radiatorsystems and the like, comprising a closed passage, means for causing abody of liquid to descend in said passage, and a succession of deviceswhereby said body of liquid is caused to exert a succession of airwithdrawing anddischarging operations while descending through saidpassage.

21. Apparatus for maintaining'an air exhausting action on the radiatorsystem of a fluid heating plant, and for expelling the dead air byutilizing the pressure reducing action of a descending body of liquid,said apparatus comprising several closed chambers, devices includingautomatic valve mechanisms for periodically filling and emptying saidchambers in succession, and

means for providing a small constant flow closed chambers, each chamberhavingan of liquid into the first chamber of the series.

22. Apparatus for drawing air from the radiator system of a fluidheating plant, and for expelling said air comprising a series of airoutlet and being connected with the radiator system, anda liquid supplytank from which liquid is drained into the first chamber of said series.a I

23. A steam heating system provided with means, for exhausting air fromthe radiators of the system and for expelling said air comprising adrainage system wherein liquid is successively drained from one closedchamher to another of a series of such chambers to successively fillsaid chambers to expel air therefrom and to emptysaid'chambers toproduce air exhausting action on said radiators. i

24-. A steam heating system provided with means for exhausting'ainf'romthe radiators of the system and for expelling said air comprising aliquid tank having a small constantly running liquid supply and anautomatic valve controlled drainage device for maintaining the outletfrom the tank closed while the tank is'filling and the air is beingexpelled therefrom and for auto-. matically draining the liquid fromsaid tank to draw air thereinto, after said tank has been filled, andthen for automatically closing said outlet so that the tank can berefille ,7

25. Apparatus for exerting negative pressure'pull on the heating fluidinhouseheating systems, comprising a 2 vertical series of liquid tanks,means to supply a charge of liquid to the upper tank, and air exhaustingconnections from each tank to the heating system, each tank providedwith an outlet and drainage pipe to a tank below,

26. 111 a steam heating system, a tank provided with a bottom well, anair vent from said well to the upper portion of theinterior of the tank,said ventserving as an overflow from the tank to the well, a bottomdischarge being provided from the tank to the well, a vertically movablevalve in said tank for closing and opening said discharge and providedwith buoyant means for unseating the same, and a drainage pipe forcarrying-"off the liquid from said well. 27. In a steam heating system,a closed tank provided with a well into which the liquid from the tankdrains, said tank hav- .liquid, and a drainage pipe from said well atits upper end having a goose neck in .said well whereby said pipeconstitutes a siphon.

28. Apparatus for drawing air from the radiator system of a fluidheating plant, ,characterlzed' by a series of chambers. having airexhausting connection with the radi: atorsystem, a source of liquidsupply, and

a series of devices constructed and arran ed tor successively andautomatlcally filhng and draining liquid from said chambers forsuccessively forcing air from and drawing air into said chambers,substantially asdescribed.

29. Apparatus for maintaining. negative pressure in advance of theheating fluid in fluid house heating systems comprising a closed liquiddrainage passage, means for supplying liquid thereto, and meansjforautomatically forming bodies of water at successive-points along saidpassage and causing them to descend in succession therein. so as to drawthe air in said passagedownwardly through the same behind saiddoscending bodies of water to exert air exhausting action throughoutthesaid pas-- sage, substantially as described.

30. In a fluid house heating. system, apparatus for maintaining a vacuumin the system in front of the'heating fluid therein, comprising a seriesof successive closed liquid chambers at different levels, means wherebyair exhausting columns of liquid are caused to successively descend fromchamber to chamber and drive the air in said chambers successivelydownward from chamber to chamber, and means for supplying liquid to thetop chamber of the series. v f V 31. Apparatus'for exhausting dead airfrom fluid house heating systems. comprisinga drain pipe, and means :forforming the same body of liquid into columns of liquid to successivelydescend through said pipe, substantially as described l 32. A steamheating system provided With means for exhausting air from the radiatorsof the system and for expelling said air, comprising a liquid tankhaving a constantly running liquid supply and an automatic valvecontrolled draining device for closing the outlet from the tank when thelatter begins to fill and the air is being expelled therefrom, and forautomatically draining the liquid from said tank wto draw air thereinto,after said tank has partially emptied.

33. Apparatus for exerting negative pres sure pull on the heating fluidin heating systems, comprising a series of liquid tanks at differentlevels, means to supply a charge of liquid to the upper tank, and airexhaustmg connections from each tank to the next upper tank and finallyto the heating system forming drainage outlets from each tank to thenext lower tank and finally to the atmosphere, said outlets beingprovided with automatic Valve mechanism whereby the outlet is closedafter the tank is drained and commences to refill, and is automaticallyopened after the tank is filled and has partially emptied to completethe drainage of said tank.

WALTER S. HAVEN.

